419 scam: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND"<test@dns.young-shine.com.tw> Dear fund Beneficiary

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "secretaryolu@discuz.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348088676337 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imf_inter@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:45:07 -0700
Subject: Dear fund Beneficiary

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF)
HEAD OFFICE NO: 23
ADEBOYE ST, APAPA LAGOS.
Tell:+234-8088-676-337
REF:-XVGNN8809

Good Day,

This is to intimate you of a very important information which will be of a great help to redeem you from all the difficulties you have been experiencing in getting your long over due payment due to excessive demand for money from you by both corrupt Bank officials and Courier Companies after which your fund remain unpaid to you. I am Mr.Robert Mills, a highly placed official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It may interest you to know that reports have reached our office by so many correspondences on the uneasy way which people like you are treated by Various Banks and Courier Companies/ Diplomat across Europe to Africa and Asia /London Uk and we have decided to put a stop to that and that is why I was appointed to handle your transaction here in Nigeria.

All Governmental and Non-Governmental prostates, NGOs, Finance Companies, Banks, Security Companies and Courier companies which have been in contact with you of late have been instructed to back up from your transaction and you have been advised NOT to respond to them anymore since the IMF is now directly in charge of your payment.You are hereby advised NOT to remit further payment to any institutions with respect to your transaction as your fund will be transferred to you directly from our source.I hope this is clear. Any action contrary to this instruction is at your own risk.

Due to your long over-due payment which you have been finding it difficult to receive via a Bank Transfer, we have arranged your payment through OCEANIC Bank International ATM Master Card Payment Center, this is an instruction passed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in respect to all over delayed payment and debt re-scheduling.
We will send you an International Swift ATM Master Card that has been approved in your favor with Card Number: 5301236451206002, with valued sum of
$2,000.000.00 (TWO MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLAR'S ONLY), which you are to use in accessing your fund in any ATM Stand/location worldwide and remember that the maximum withdrawal daily limit is Five Thousand United States Dollars (US$5,000.00).
We have concluded delivery arrangement with the Ups courier services. Please note that the UPS courier company is fully insured by Nicon
Insurance Corporation.

Kindly re-send the details below for delivery.

1. Valid Delivery Address.
2. Full Names.
3. Phone Number (home/mobile).

Please do confirm that you will take responsibility for the cost of delivery ($185), so that I will know how to proceed with you. Please be
informed that the delivery will be made to your address in 48 hours (2 days) after our confirmation of this payment for delivery, as you know
that the delivery fee receipt will be also attached on your payment delivery documents to avoid your package being delayed by customs.

More so I hereby advice you to go now and send the deivery fee to my secretray via the information's below through WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.

===============================
Receiver's Name: John Kenneth
Text Question: GOD
Text Answer: FIRST
Address: Lagos Nigeria
Amount:$185
MTCN NUMBER:.........

Send payment info to (secretaryolu@discuz.org)
===============================

Treat urgently and note that your ATM Masterb Card is ready and available for dispatch to you. Call +234-8088-676-337

Regards,
Mr.Robert Mills

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